The angel Gabriel then informs us that after the death of Alexander the Great, which is represented by the broken horn in this vision, that the Grecian Empire was divided into four separate kingdoms. Historical records confirm the fact that after the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was indeed split into four separate kingdoms. The angel Gabriel then tells us that out of one of those four kingdoms the little horn will ultimately emerge; the little horn in this passage represents the anti-Christ. So the question is asked, which one of the four kingdoms the angel is referring to. Historical records reveal to us that of the four kingdoms, it was the Seleucid Empire which was located in the same geographic area as the preceding empires shown in this vision[1]. And so we see that the fifth kingdom referred to in this vision is the Seleucid Empire. Historical records reveal to us that the Seleucid Empire began in the year 312 BC and ended in the year 141 BC. Again it is important to note that the map of the Seleucid Empire shown below incorporates the geographic location of the anti-Christ’s kingdom shown to Daniel.
Map of the Seleucid Empire (312 BC – 141 BC)
The angel Gabriel then informs us in this passage that in the latter time of their kingdom; when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise having fierce features and having understanding of sinister schemes. The king that the angel is referring to in this passage is the person of the anti-Christ. Clearly two things foretold by the angel in this passage have not yet transpired, i.e. the transgressors have not yet reached their fullness and the anti-Christ has not yet arisen in the earth. And so we see that the latter time of their kingdom has not yet arrived. So which kingdom is the angel referring to in this passage? It obviously cannot be the Seleucid Empire that he is referring to, because that empire ended its control of Babylonia and Mesopotamia in 141 BC. History teaches us that there are three empires that succeeded the Seleucid Empire, bringing us to the present time; bearing in mind that all of these kingdoms must all be centred in the same geographic area shown to Daniel. And so in order for us to continue following the trail given to us by the angel we will discuss these last three kingdoms in turn. History teaches us that the Parthian Empire succeeded the Seleucid Empire in the year 141 BC[2]. In that year the Parthian Empire expelled the Seleucid Empire from the geographic areas of Babylonia and Mesopotamia, thus expanding their borders to incorporate those areas. These two geographic areas are important, being central to the trail given to us by the angel and the geographic location shown to Daniel. It is interesting to note that the Roman Empire was one of the main rivals of the Parthian Empire, and they invaded the region of Mesopotamia on numerous occasions in an attempt to incorporate that region into the Roman Empire. Each attempt proved to be unsuccessful however, and the region remained under Parthian rule. The Parthian Empire had a relatively long lifespan of 365 years. Historical records reveal to us that the Parthian Empire began in the year 141 BC and ended in the year 224 AD. Again it is important to note that the map of the Parthian Empire shown below incorporates the geographic location of the anti-Christ’s kingdom shown to Daniel.
Map of the Parthian Empire (141 BC – 224 AD)
The next empire that controlled the geographic areas of Babylonia and Mesopotamia was the Sasanian Empire, which succeeded the Parthian Empire in the year 224 AD[3]. Of all of the kingdoms mentioned in this section thus far, the Sasanian Empire had the longest lifespan, spanning 427 years. Historical records reveal to us that the Sasanian Empire began in the year 224 AD and ended in the year 650 AD. Again it is important to note that the map of the Sasanian Empire shown below incorporates the geographic location of the anti-Christ’s kingdom shown to Daniel.
Map of the Sasanian Empire (224 AD – 650 AD)
Michael E.B. Maher
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasanian_Empire
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